Fingerprint relatedness

Title:

Fingerprint pattern relatedness


Problem Scenario:
This experiment is important because knowing that fingerprints between families or between family members is helpful for people taking fingerprints because it is valuable information that will help shorten a process

Broad Question:

Are fingerprint patterns inherited

Specific Question:

Are fingerprint patterns in a family more similar than fingerprint patterns between families?

Hypothesis:

Fingerprints in a family are more similar than fingerprints between familes.

Graph of Hypothesis

Variables

Independent Variable: Relatedness

Dependent Variable: Pattern similarity

Variables That Need To Be Controlled:

Same Finger
Same Hand
Same Fingerprinting method
Same ink
same characteristerics
same patern characteristics

Vocabulary List That Needs Explanation

Same Finger
Same Hand
Same Ink
Same Fingerprinting Met
Relatedness
Pattern Similarity
Patter characteristics
Same pattern characteristics

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General Plan

I will take 2 families and fingerprint as many family members as possible. When I have taken the fingerprints I will label the fingerprints generic pattern and specific characteristics. With the fingerprints I will determine if fingerprint patterns have a tendency to be more related between families or between family members.

Potential Problems And Solutions

Some of the potential problems I have a good chance of encountering are classifying fingerprrints in the wrong pattern category for example putting a fingerprint that has an arch pattern in the category of tented archs. Another problem may encounter is mixing up the fingerprints between families, between family members, and between genders.

Safety Or Environmental Concerns

A safety concern i will face is the chance of someone being allergic to the ink and having a hazardous [[#|allergic reaction]]. Another safety concern i willl face is the possibility of the ink getting into someones eyes or face.

Experimental Design

What is your experimental unit?

1 person

Number Of Trials:

I will take each family's family members once with the exception of taking the fingerprint incorrectly or messing up.

Number Of Subjects In Each trial:

I have 3 subjects in each trial; Fingerprinting ink, Fingerprinting report [[#|card]], and the fingerprinters finger.

When data will be collected

The data will be collected For family 1# on march 28th and the data for family 2# will be collected on march 5th.

Where will data be collected?:

The data will be collected at each of the families homes

Resources and Budget Table

Item	Number needed	Where I will get this	Cost
fingerprinting roll tape	2	Mr. Biche	$ 0
fingerprinting ink	1	Mr. Biche	$ 0
magnifying glass	3	Mr. Biche	$ 0
Fingerprint Report card	N/A	Mr. Biche	$ 0
Stamp ink	1	Staples	$ 5.99

Detailed Procedure

First I will get two families to be fingerprinted, I will fingerprint each family member (Both families having at least two children).. secondly I will take their fingerprints and determine the generic pattern and each fingerprints characteristics. After I will analyze the fingerprints and i will divide them into each patterns group. Then I will examine the fingerprints and determine if the fingerprint patterns and characteristics are inherited and if they are more related between family members or between families.

Diagram

Photo List

Time Line

Procedure, timeline, and phoo list complete 2/1

Begin experiments no later than 2/4

Experiments done 3/1

Analysis 3/7

Discussion/backgorund 3/15

Wiki Complete 3/17

Posters complete 3/22

KMS Fair 3/29

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Data Table

mom 1	mom 2	dad 1	dad 1
1	0	2	2

Within Siblings	Between Families
.59	.60

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Data Analysis

All Raw Data

See the Data Table

Graphs

Photos

Results

In my experiment I took fingerprints from two families to see if fingerpritns were inherited. I did this by taking my parents fingerprints and analyzing their generic pattern and characteristics. Then I took mine and my brothers and looked to see if my parents generic patterns were inherited. I did this for the other family also. My graphs show that fingerprint patterns were inherited, but they were patterns were more commonly iherited from the father. I also saw that the patterns were more commonly inherited between families. Also in most families with three or more kids have around a 60% inheritance rate from the men. This means that that child with more children have a better chance of their kids inheriting the fathers generic pattern.

Conclusion

I reject my hypothesis.The fingerprints I took have shown that fingerprints are more related between families than between family members.

Discussion

My hypothesis was Fingerprints in a family are more similar than fingerprints between familes. I reject my hypothesis because of the fingerprints I took from the the 2 specific families show that fingerprints are more related between families than between family members. A valid hypothesis would be; Fingerprints are more related between families than between family members.

Benefit to Community and/or Science

I believe my data can be used to help others by giving people a better idea of how things are inherited. My experiment goes to show that not only does the color of of your eyes, you're hair color, and how tall you are rely on your parents genetic build up but they also rely on you're fingerprint pattern. My experiment is helpful to FBI agents and anyone who takes fingerprints because with this knowledge you can identify people and that persons family members by knowing that fingerprint patterns are inherited.

Background Research

References

Abstract

For this year's science fair I tested the question: Are fingerprint patterns more related between families or between family members. My hypothesis was that the fingerprints would be more related between family members. My procedure began by me getting two families(Both with at least two children)and taking each family member's fingerprint. I analyzed all the fingerprints and separated them into each family. Then I looked at the fingerprints generic pattern and characteristics to help me determine if fingerprint patterns were inherited and if they were more related between families or between family members. This science fair project benefits to the community by proving that fingerprints are inherited and this could lead to help detectives in many different ways. My project proves that fingerprint patterns are inherited and that fingerprints are more related between families than between family members